Traction device for automobile-wheels.



C. F. HIGHFIELD.

TRACTION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6, IQII.

Patented 001;. 2,1917.

c. F. HIGHFIELD.

TRACTION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED mms. 19:1.

1,241,848. Patented Oct; 2,1917.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRACTION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE-WHEELS.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, CHARLES FREDERICK HIGHFIELD, of Saltcoats, Provinceof Sasinvention,

katchewan, Canada, have invented certain newand useful Improvements inTraction Devices for Automobile-Wheels, of which thefollowing is aspecification.

' 1My invention relates to improvements in traction devices forautomobile wheels, and the object of my invention 'is to provideparticularly the drive wheel of an automobile with means which willincrease the traction thereof when desired, and at the same time largelyprevent skidding and so reduce very considerably danger of accidentsfrom this source.

The construction of my preferred form of and a slight modificationthereof, will be hereinafterparticularly setforth, andwhat I claim asnew will be pointed out in the claims forming part of thisspecification. p i Y Figure 1 is an elevation'of the major portion of atraction wheel of an automobile, from the inner side thereof, showingthe same equipped with my device. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line2-2, Fig. 1. Figs.

3 and 4.- are endelevations of certain sleeves spective view of a usedin'the device, and Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical, longitudinal sections onthe line 5-5, Fig. 3, and 6-6, Fig. 4, respectively.

Fig. 7 isa view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification of my devicewherebythe traction means may be thrown into and out of operation byhand. Fig. 8 is an end elevationyof a threaded stud and its attachingflange, used in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a per suitable form of clamp Imake use of, and Fig. 10 isa side elevation "In the drawings, like of aremovable shoe for the device.

charactersof refer- 7 once refer to the same parts.

skidding; or slipp g,

It must be understood that my device can be made use of in connectionwith the nondriving wheels of an automobile because the invention may bemade use of to'prevent as before mentioned.

It will alsobe understood that I merely make -'use of a conventionalform of an automobile whe'e'l to illustrate the use of my invention, andits preferred construction.

A is the hub of any suitable type of wheel B. C are the spokes, and D'the felly; E

Patented Oct. 2,. 1917.

is the tubular frame which surrounds the driven shaft F. Secured to thespokes B, by anysuitable means such as clamps and nuts, designated bythe common character of reference G, is a ring-shaped member H,preferably made of wood for the purpose of reducing weight. The outersurface of the said member H is reinforced by a tire I suitably securedin place. Embracing the spokes O, and resting against the felly D, is aclamp J, the ends K of which are threaded and project through aring-plate L, the inner edge 0 of which is clamped between the saidclamp and the metal rim 2. 3 are nuts screwing'on the threaded ends ofthe clamps K, so as to securely hold the ring plate L in position.Radially mounted in the ring-plate L, and in the member H are tractionmembers 1, each composed of a head 5, which operates through theringplate L and a stem 6 which operates through the tire I, and extendsinto a pocket 7 formed in said member H. Any desired number of thetraction members 4 may be used, and these members may have thechisel-shaped ends shown; or if desired they may each be provided with aremovable shoe 8 of any desired shape secured in place by the screws'9.p

Carried by each stem 6 to freely"move longitudinally thereof is a shortsleeve 10,

and mounted on each stem 6 is a coiled 'vided with flanges 13 which aresuitably'secured together. The said sections of the sleeve 12 are eachprovided with a circumferential groove which when the sectionsare placedtogether, form a circumferential groove 14 in which is mounted to rotatethe sleeve 15, likewise formed of two halves, as is the sleeve 12. Aswill be understood later on, the sleeve- 15 must rotate freely, and toprovide for this, I provide the sleeve with one or more grease cups 16.The said sleeve 15 is radially provided with a plurality of ears 17, ineach of which is mounted one end of a rod 18. Theother ends of ate inthe said groove is a sleeve 9., similar stood without said rods aremounted in the ears 19 carried by the sleeves 10. 20 is a lever, and themembers 21 of the forked end thereof, areheld in the ears 22', carriedby the sleeve'12I By any suitable connections (not shown), convenient tothe driver'of thecar, in order to throw the traction members in positionto engage with the roadway, moved so aS to move thesleeves 12 and 1 5in-thedirection indicated by arrow-in Fig; 2. The movement of the rods18 consequent upon the movement just described will, through the mediumof the sleeves 10 and springs 11, force the'heads 5, of the tractionmembers out the required distanceto effect the purpose in view. By themovementin the opposite direction, of the actuating, parts justdescribed, the tractionmembers will be withdrawn from contact with theroadway.

At no time is themovement of the traction members 4 suflicient to movethe stems 6 out of the pockets 7'.

Pins 23 are carried by each head 5 to limit the outward movement ofthetraction members,and pins 24 the inward movement of thesleeves- 10', andenable the sleeves 10 to retractthe traction members4, I

In the form of my device illustrated in- Fig; 7,11 show my inventionadapted to be operated by hand. For this purpose I dispense with theparts shownxin Fig.- 2 as mounted on the tubular frame 6, and in placethereof have secured to' thehub A a flange a provided with athreadedstud b. Screwingj on this threaded stud is asleeve 0- provided with endflanges cl and e which form Mounted on the said sleeve and to operinconstruction to sleeve 15 already described, This sleeve 9' is-connectedwith the traction members 4* by the rods 18, through the medium of thesleeves 10', the ears of which point in the opposite direction to theposition of these ears inv Fig. 2. 1 Other cooperatingv parts in thisview will be underflange e ispreferably in the formof aynut sothat thesleeve. 0 may be turned toadjust its position onthe stud b toefl'ect theobject in view. 7

The-construction disclosed enables: me to.- readily remove the tractionmembers for repairs or replacement.)

I Should the traction members be moved into their outermost posi ion,-and should the car come in contact with a firm roadwaysurface,the-springs 11 will readilypermit-the traction members 4 to yield.

VVhile I have described wl at-I consider-to bathe-best embodiments of myinvention,- 1 desireit to beunderstood that the,principle canbeembodiedfin different forms; and I carried by the stem 6 limit betweenthem a circumferential groove further description.- The desire not to belimited beyond the requirehavemovement in said ring-plate; flexible"means whereby said-traction members= are .allowed to yield according tothe character of the road surface they. comein contact with meansconnectedwith said traction members for operating the; same,- anda-suitable support for said operating means whereby said operatmg.meanshas operatlve movement on; the axis oat-rotation of Sfild wheel.- 1

2. In an automobile wheel, the combination-w-ith a felly, and spokestherefor, and a metal rim carried by said felly and pro jecting beyondeach side thereof; of a oil cular ringrplate the inner Gdg6f0-Wll1Ghrests in the angle formed between one side of said felly andsaid metal rim, so as: to bein contact-with these parts; a pluralityof'substantially urshaped clamps embracing; said spokesrnear saidfell-y, and each having its'outer ends bent at an angle',.substantiallyV projecting] through holes formed in-said plate; means:

parallel "to: said spokes and whereby said plate and clamps are firmlyconnected together through themedium of the. ends of said clamps; aplurality of radi ally-disposed traction members mounted to havemovement in said ring-plate; flexible means whereby said tractionmembersare: allowed to yield according tothe character of the road surface theycome contact with; means connected withsaid traction: members foroperating thesame, and asuitable support for said operating-meanswhereby saidoperating means has operative movement-on the axisofrotation of said wheel.

3. In an automobile wheel the combinationwith the felly and spokestherefor; a metal rim carried by said felly" and projecting, beyond eachside thereof anda ring:- shaped member secured to said wheel adj a centthe hub thereof, of a circular ringplate the inner edge of which restsinthe angle formed b tween-one side ofsaid-felly and metal rim-,1 so asto be in contactwith these parts a plurality of substantially U- shapedclampsrembracin g2; said spokes near' said felly; means whereby saidplate and clamps are firmly clamped together; a plurality of radiallydisposed traction members mounted to have movement in said ringplate;and also in said ring-shaped member; a coiled-compression spring mountedon each of said traction members; a sleeve movably mounted on each ofsaid traction members and positioned adjacent said ringshaped member anddesigned to transmit 10 for operating said sleeves, for the purpose 15specified.

CHARLES FREDERICK HIGHFIELD.

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

